Episode Summary

Lorelai is determined to win the Stars Hollow Dance Marathon and wrest the trophy from four-time champion Kirk, but has trouble getting a partner until she finally convinces Rory to help her dance her way to victory. Dean sits on the sidelines to cheer his girl on, and is soon joined by Jess and Shane, who spend their time making out while Jess keeps his eye on Rory. Lorelai breaks her heel, and Dean takes her place while Luke plays shoe repairman. On the dance floor, Dean realizes that Rory is attracted to Jess and breaks up with her. Rory tearfully runs off, followed closely by Jess, and Kirk is declared the winner once again.moreless

Another Festival in Stars Hollow - seems cool. But a dance marathon? With a break up? Haven't we seen it somewhere else? Oh yes, we have, not once. I'm not used to this level at this show. [ Plus I really hated the breakup. :) ]moreless

The dance marathon idea was not very original. At least the episode title reflects it. There were a lot of goofs in this episode, that you can't explain and these come from the writing which I am very sensitive to. But I liked Paris in this episode, she had the funniest lines and a good story line.

It didn't start that bad actually. Luke and Lorelai are having their usual back-and-forth discussions like an old couple with audience. Taylor is very much into his character by playing very important and we can see him drunk later on, kudos! :) Emily and Lorelai also have a sweet moment when Lorelai gets dumped by her dance partner and Emily tells her: "you can make my asparagus talk". I liked to see Paris happy, I can so relate to that girl! :) But it's hard to imagine that Madeline can be that dull in a school like Chilton where everyone prepares for ivy colleges... Paris had the nicest moment with Jamie who teased her so well by naming her "disturbance". And the end of the scene: "He took my books." - "Well, go get 'em back." Another great scene with Paris when she's late: "I overslept." - "You're kidding." Later, when Lorelai asks Rory to dance with her, Rory says that this is Dean's first marathon which cannot be true, being here for 2 years...But a wise line from Lorelai comes in the very early morning of the marathon: " Oh, it's so cool to be married. You have your own spot-scoper." If nothing else... :) Then, Luke doesn't serve coffee at 6 in the morning. Why? As far as I remember, there were like 127 couples in the beginning - not only that we didn't see almost 300 people but there was not enough space for 300 people either! Then the dancers doesn't seem to get tired after 6 hours. The girls doesn't seem to get tired at all. Only sleepy - strange. Dean comes in the 6th hour which is then noon, stays all day, all night and does the breakup in the 24th hour - hell of an enduring person together with Jess and Shean.When Andrew flips out (again in 6th hour), Lorelai says: "Right on time!" while he should've been left already after 15 minutes according to Rory's description of the marathon earlier.14 hours passed: Sookie and Jackson are still dancing, no foot-hurt or anything. My least favourite scene of this episode is when Rory has a debate with Jess in front of the sandwiches (a very good debate by the way) and cares not at all about Dean's feelings. Later, on the dance floor, I can accept that she was too tired to hide her feelings but here it was quite cruel from her. But Jess replied very cleverly, I liked that part. And the very end when in Lorelai's 10-minute long emergency break a lot happen: she goes to Luke with her broken shoe, he goes back to the diner. She talks to Sookie 17 lines (like 2 mins) and Luke's already back from the diner! Then they talk about wanting babies with the right partner - about 2 more minutes. In the meantime, David goes to Lane. At 5 in the morning! And at 5 in the morning, his parents are in Bible class! In the meantime, when Lorelai is let's say in the bathroom after her shoe is fixed (which was at least 4 mins), my heart and Dean's heart breaks and he tells Rory how dishonest she was. Let's say 2 mins with which 6 mins have passed from Lorelai's 10-minute break. Then Rory runs away to the bridge, she talks to Jess, and comes back just like 2 minutes after Lorelai came back from her break, leaving 6 minutes for herself to all the way to the bridge and back and talking to Jess. Very lifelike... It's I think the worst written episode of this show, not reaching the usual level. Still better than most of the writing somewhere else but we're spoilt.moreless

A 24 hour dance marathon takes place in Stars Hollow, leading to some big events. Brilliant episode, finally it happens.

Defiantly an action packed episode and the one thing I've been waiting for happened, Dean broke up with Rory after realising that she's into Jess and there's nothing he can do. It was really entertaining to see Jess and Rory argue purely because they were both jealous. I felt a bit sorry for Dean, he looked so disappointed, didn't feel anything for Shane, who would.The break up scene itself was my favourite of the episode, loved how she was just left that, very dramatic, then she walked off in tears. Jess generally looked sorry for her but when the break up was going on, he looked more surprised. The ending part where Jess found Rory on the bridge, great scene for them as a couple. He admitted he had feelings for her, as did she and then went to break up with Shane (Fairly obvious anyway).The whole dance was a really great, fun idea. I liked the music in the background, made the episode more engrossing. Luke and Lorelai even had a moment, when they spoke about kids, they love each other, just realise it already. Very good scene. Liked how Lorelai was competing against Kirk, who won in the end after the events with Rory.The Sookie and Jackson argument was good for the episode too, especially how it was handled during the dancing itself. Glad they figured it out, wonder if they'll have kids. Lane and Dave, good couple, liked his fake speech to Mrs Kim, her reaction was funny. I wonder if Lane will actually date him for real this time, not like Henry.Taylor was going on his usual power trip, amusing. Babette leaving so early was also funny. Can't wait to see Jess and Rory actually be a couple. The end scene was great, Rory crying on Lorelai's shoulder and Kirk doing his victory dance, music was great with it. This was an anticipated episode and it was brilliant. Look forward to more!moreless

Totally loved it

I absoluteley loved this episode. I have waited forever for jess and rory to get together!! I did not like Dean at all, they didn´t match; first i didn't noticed that but when Jess came into the picture, you can see that he is soooo right for her!!!

the theme of the episode, the dance marathon, is a bit weird; but it works in this episode; especially with the music in the background. thought rory looked lovely (reaallly safe). The only thing that bothered me was taylor( he's so... you know, right?), but it could have been because i just watched 10 episodes right after each other..I think it's one of my favourites, but when you're a Dean fan, you'll probably hate it.moreless

Stars Hollow has its annual dance marathon. Lorelai convinces Rory to be her partner. Dean sits and watches them dance. Jess also comes with his girlfriend. Jess gets to Dean, who breaks up with Rory because he knows she has feelings for Jess.moreless

This episode was brilliant. It was my favorite episode out of all seven seasons of Gilmore Girls. The dance marathon was such a good idea. It seems like so much fun, I would love to try that. I also love this episode, because Rory and Jess finally get together for the first time. Luke and Lorelai also have a little moment in this episode. She asks him to fix the broken heel on her shoe and he wants to make sure she knows that he is not completely against kids and that with the right person he may want to have some one day. If you are a Gilmore Girls and haven't seen this episode you really need to, it is the best!!!moreless

The dance marathon in stars hollow

This episode is one of my favorites. It was so funny with mrs. kim and her sandwiches lol. I am a rory and jess fan so this episode was a good one because it was a turning point in their relationship. You could see that they were just trying to make each other jealous when they were in the gazebo and argueing about their relationships. Jess's reaction was classic when he heard that dean was finally breaking up with rory. Also, this is a greay luke and lorelai episode. They have the famous discussion about having kids. It is very obvious that luke wants lorelai to know that he is not completely anti-kid It is an overall great episode!moreless

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TRIVIA (12)

Luke's coffee table was very near to where Lorelai and Rory were dancing when Dean came in. Assuming that he was manning the coffee station, there's no way that he could have missed the big, loud fight that Dean had with Rory, and in that case, he would've known that they broke up.

While Kirk is running his victory lap, Lorelai is hugging Rory, comforting her because of her break up with Dean. The Gilmore girls are initially standing outside a circle drawn on the floor. The camera pans in on Kirk celebrating. When it moves out again, Lorelai and Rory are in the center of the circle.

In the opening scene Lorelai is sitting in Luke's diner pondering who she can ask to be her dance partner. When Taylor leaves the diner, she wonders aloud to Luke who Taylor is dancing with. However, it is later made clear that every year Taylor moderates the marathon, which means he never dances. Why then would Lorelai wonder who Taylor was dancing with when she knew he never participates as a dancer?

If Lorelai participates in the dance marathon every year, then what was the big deal with Dean going to see it with all the little traditions that accompany it? He and Rory were dating the year before so why didn't he go then?

When Luke is fixing Lorelai's shoe, they sat down on the bleachers. Dean was talking very loud when he broke up with Rory. Lorelai could have heard and seen what was going on, but she still freaked out when she came back and found that Rory was gone and that they had lost.

Before Lorelai's heel breaks, the shot of the clock reads 5:00. After this, Lorelai goes to Luke to fix her shoe, Lorelai and Sookie talk, Lane talks to Dave, Dean breaks up with Rory, Luke fixes the shoe after coming back from the diner, and Rory and Jess talk by the lake. All of this happens in less than 15 minutes because when they show the clock again right before Kirk wins, it is not even 5:15 yet.

Rory says this is Dean's first time seeing the annual 24-hour Dance Marathon. This does not make sense because Dean has already been in Stars Hollow for two years. He must have heard about it and/or watched the past two marathons.

QUOTES (34)

Rory: What is that stuff?Lane: Eggless egg salad. Though this year my mom added food coloring to make the egg-like product look more eggy.Rory: Smart.Lane: And every sandwich comes with your own personal pamphlet "Dancing for the Devil", an illustrated look at the effect of dancing on your chances of spending all eternity in hell.Rory: Boy, her flames are getting really good.Lane: Well, she just bought a new color printer. You can do a ton of stuff with it.

Lorelai: Hi there. Um, this is Rory Gilmore and I'm Lorelai Gilmore.Nurse: Lorelai Gilmore?Lorelai: Yeah, L – o – r . ..Nurse: You don't look like you've recently suffered a face-altering car crash.Lorelai: Uh, excuse me?Nurse: You're also supposed to have buck teeth, a club foot, and alopecia.Lorelai: Oh. I'm sorry, who told you this?Nurse: My husband.Lorelai: Your husband? Well, who's... Stanley Appleman. Your husband is Stanley Appleman.Nurse: Mmhmm.Lorelai: Okay, well, it's very nice to meet you. Stanley's said the nicest things about you. In the one tiny short conversation we had, you know, standing way far apart. You know, too far to touch, but close enough to hear all the wonderful things he said about his adorable, sweet-tempered, lovable. . . can we have someone else do our physical?

(Rory and Paris area coming out of Chilton and Paris stops.)Rory: What?(Jaime is there)Paris: What's he doing here?Rory: I bet he is here to see you.Paris: He hasn't called me once! I haven't seen or heard from him since we had our date in Washington three months ago.Rory: Maybe he wants to explain why.(Jaime stars walking towards them)Paris: He was suppose to go away, never come back. I already wrote his name on my revenge notebook.Rory: Paris, he knows you are standing here talking about him.Paris: What does he want?Rory: Go over there and find out!(she goes to him)Paris: What do you want?Jaime: I'm on break from school, I thought I'd come down and see you.Paris: But...you never called.Jaime: I know.Paris: You lost my number?Jaime: Nope. I memorized your number.Paris: You didn't want to use my number.Jaime: I was starting classes...Paris: In phone dialing? How's it going?Jaime: Look Paris, this year is very important for me, I thought the last thing I needed was a distraction.Paris: Well I totally understand! This year is very important for me too! I am focusing on getting into Harvard and the last thing that I need is a distraction. Good move! You saved us both a lot of distractions!(she shakes his hand) Thank you and good luck!

( He doesn't let go...)

Paris: I need my hand.Jaime: If I let go, how fast will you run away?Paris: 3.2 seconds.Jaime: I thought so. Hey Rory!Rory: Hey Jaime! How's Princeton?Jaime: It's good! Crazy but..Paris: Let go!!Jaime: No.Paris: Yes!Jaime: Paris...Paris: Look you don't have to be nice, you don't have to tie up lose ends, I get it! I'm a distraction! Now, either pull a Boxing Helena or give me back my hand.Jaime: Yes, talking to you would have been distraction.Paris: I know! I heard you already! My God find a pirate to sit on, OK?Jaime: However not talking to you has turned out to be impossibleParis: What?Jaime: I flunked a pop quiz in Poli-Sci because I couldn't stop thinking about you. Still want your hand back?Paris: I've got another.Jaime: I thought a lot about this and apparently you are a distraction that I'm suppose to have.Paris: You didn't have a bad time on our date?Jaime: Are you busy right now?Paris: Well..Rory: No, we are done. She is free!Jaime: Good! Lets go get some coffee. (He grabs her books and walks away)Jaime: Bye Rory!Rory: Bye Jaime!Paris: He took my books.Rory: Well go get them back!

Lorelai: Four years in a row. I've come this close to winning last year. I swear to God I had it!!Luke: I know the story.Lorelai: It's hour 23..Luke: I know the story!Lorelai: I'm dancing with Henry "Ho-Ho" McAfie III...(talking to the diner)Luke: How many people heard me say I heard the story?(a lot of people put their arms up and she continues)Lorelai: And Ho-Ho is fading so I'm trying to buck him up. Saying: "Come on Ho-Ho! Stay with me Ho-Ho! And all the sudden he stars yelling: Stop calling me Ho-Ho, It's making me hungry!Luke: Hey look, there goes Tommy Tune!(and again...)Lorelai: And out of nowhere, Kirk comes dancing by weaving a McDonald's apple pie in the air and of course Ho-Ho lunges for the pie, drops my hand and that was it. Kirk wins, I'm out. I'm gonna get that Ho-Ho someday!!

(picking dance partners for Lorelai)Luke: What about that one?Lorelai: Hum not!Luke: Why not?Lorelai: Too paleLuke: So what?Lorelai: Pale means sickly.Luke: Or sunscreen.Lorelai: Or mad cows disease!Luke: Pale does not mean mad cows disease!Lorelai: Have you ever had mad cows disease?Luke: Just twice last week and and my color was wonderful.

Luke: Uh, listen, uh, I didn't really mean all that stuff I said earlier.Lorelai: What stuff?Luke: Uh, the kid stuff, you know.Lorelai: Oh, it's no big deal.Luke: Yeah, I know, I just. . .I'm not really as anti-kid as I might have come off.Lorelai: Drop another sucker in...Luke: Okay, yes. I don't always have the patience for 'em. They tend to be a little squishy, and that freaks me out a little.Lorelai: You don't have to want kids, Luke. Or like kids. It's not for everybody.Luke: I know, but...although I'm quite happy going an entire day without having to deal with somebody else's bodily functions, if I ever happen to meet the right person...well, it would be a discussion.Lorelai: A discussion.Luke: Yes. Probably a short discussion, but still. Here, hold this. So what about you? You ever think about having another kid?Lorelai: Oh, I don't know how much fun it would be without biology finals and headgear...but sure, if I ever happen to meet the right person, another kid might be nice.(They stare at each other for a moment)

Lorelai: Have you seen Sookie or Jackson?Luke: No, but have you tried the insane asylum, where everyone in this room is supposed to be.(Jackson and Sookie come up behind Lorelai)Jackson: There you are. I want a word with you.Lorelai: Jackson, I've been looking everywhere for you.Jackson: I want to tell you that you have no right to tell Sookie four in four is crazy.Lorelai: Sookie!Sookie: Yes, it did come out sorta like that.Luke: What's four in four?Lorelai: Four kids in four years.Luke: That is crazy.Jackson: Oh, great! Let's open this up to even more discussion!Luke: One kid in four years is crazy.Lorelai: Okay, raise your hand if you're not helping!Jackson: The rate at which I have children is between me and Sookie.Luke: And the Lord. (Lorelai glares at him) Still not helping?Sookie: Jackson, the contest-Jackson: To hell with the contest! I'm quitting the contest! That is, if it's okay with Lorelai, or Luke, or that strange man in the corner whom I've never met. Excuse me, strange man in the corner, is it okay if I quit this contest?! (storms off)

Lorelai: (trying to show she's not intimidated by Kirk's dancing) Flip all you want, pal. This ain't the Olympics; It's who's left standing at the end that matters, not how fancy you are getting there.

Jess: I'm gonna sit here as long as I like, and I'm gonna do whatever I like, and if you don't like it, then just ignore me and pay attention to your boyfriend.Dean: Sorry, she can't. I'm not her boyfriend anymore.Rory: What?Dean: You know, I tried to ignore this. I really did, but I don't know what the hell I was thinking.Rory: What are you talking about?Dean: You don't wanna be with me, Rory.Rory: Yes, I do.Dean: Oh, please! You've been into him since he got to town, and I have spent weeks – months, actually – trying to convince myself that it wasn't true, that everything was fine between us. But now I know that I was an idiot. You're into him and he's into you, and Shane, who by the way, should be listening to this 'cause it's so damn obvious.Rory: What's obvious? What did I do?Dean: Everyone can see, Rory! Everyone. And I'm tired, but I'm over it, so go ahead, go. Be together. There's nothing standing in your way now, 'cause I'm out.

(At Luke's, Lorelai is looking out the window for a dance partner)Luke: How about that one?Lorelai: Too pale.Luke: So?Lorelai: Pale means sickly.Luke: Or sunscreen.Lorelai: Or mad cow disease.Luke: Pale does not mean mad cow disease.Lorelai: How do you know? Have you ever had mad cow disease?Luke: Twice last week and my coloring was great.

Rory: I can't even open my eyes.Lorelai: That okay, there's nothing to see. Kirk's in a Speedo, Taylor's in a skirt, Al's in assless chaps.Rory: Oh my God, stop! I'm never gonna be able to close my eyes again.

Lorelai: Oh. Four years in a row, I have come this close to winning. Last year, I swear to God, I had it!Luke: I know the story.Lorelai: It was hour twenty-three.Luke: I know the story.Lorelai: I'm dancing with Henry Ho-Ho McAphie the third.Luke: How many people heard me say I know the story?(several customers raise their hands)Lorelai: And Ho-Ho's fading, so I'm trying to buck him up, saying "Come on, Ho-Ho. Stay with me Ho-Ho," and then all of a sudden he starts yelling, "Stop calling me Ho-Ho, it's making me hungry!Luke: Oh, hey, look, there goes Tommy Tune.Lorelai: And out of nowhere, Kirk comes dancing by, waving a McDonald's hot apple pie in the air and of course Ho-Ho lunges for the pie and drops my hand and that was it. Kirk wins, I'm out. I'm gonna get that Ho-Ho someday.

Lorelai: Hey, Kirk, relax. Dancing is supposed to be fun.Kirk: You know what will be fun Lorelai? Jogging around your prostrate body with the shinny temple of silver importance hoisted in the air for all to see. That will be fun.Lorelai: Is the serious Kirk more disturbing than the non-serious Kirk?Rory: Actually, I think they're both the same.

Luke: Taylor, you are asking me to donate free coffee to hundreds of people so you can raise money to buy a tarp?Taylor: How about $0.50 a cup.Luke: How about I charge for the cream?Taylor: You would kick Tiny Tim's crutch out from under him wouldn't you?Luke: If he asked for a free cup of coffee, gimpy's going down.

Sookie: But I thought maybe one. Two if the first one is really quiet. Lorelai: Well, honey, you have to tell Jackson that. Sookie: I can't. Lorelai: Sookie, this is not like the fruit bowl his mother gave you. You can't stick four kids in the attic and just pull them out at Christmas.

Paris: He hasn't called me once. I haven't seen or heard from him since we had our date in Washington three months ago. He was supposed to go away and never come back. I already wrote his name in my revenge notebook.

Jess: Dean's a jerk. Yelling at you like that, breaking up in front of everybody. The guy's a total jerk. Rory: No, he's not. He's right. Everything he said. All those things about you and me, all those things about me lying to him, and messing with his head. He was right. Well, wasn't he? Fine, he was right about me, then. Now go away. Jess: He was right...about all of it.

Dave: Great. So if for some reason I'm not back here in twenty minutes, that means that I'm gonna be over there, on the church steps, waiting for my parents to get out so that I can tell them about the great sandwiches that they missed. Okay? Okay, great. Thanks a lot and I hope to see you soon.

Rory: Kirk has very little in his life. He has no career, no girlfriend, no pet, no car. He lives with his mother, she won't even let him have his own key. The only thing he does have in his whole lonely pathetic existence is this marathon. If we win, if we take him down, if we take away that last little piece of dignity, then we leave him with nothing.Lorelai: I wonder if he'll cry.Rory: My mother, the Howard Roark of Stars Hollow.

Sookie: But, you're my best friend.Lorelai: Yes, I am, and I can only remain your best friend as long as Jackson doesn't kill me.Sookie: Lorelai!Lorelai: Sookie, he's a produce man. They'll never find the body, but the squash'll be especially chatty that year.

NOTES (4)

Teal Readman (Louise) and Adam Brody (Dave) previously worked togethor on the MTV series Undressed in a four episode arc. Actress Jessica Kiper (Shane) who appears in this episode was also a star on that series.

Music:"In The Mood" by Glenn Miller"Sing Sing Sing (With a Swing)" by Louis Prima"Walkin' My Baby Back Home" by the Swingin Deacons-Band"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" by the Swingin Deacons-Band"By the Beautiful Sea" by the Swingin Deacons-Band"String of Pearls" by Glenn Miller"These foolish things" by the Swingin Deacons-Band"Gonna Fly Now" (Theme from Rocky)

ALLUSIONS (14)

Jackson: Does anyone here understand that a man has a right not to have his personal life debated in a public forum? I'm not Winona Ryder.

Winona Ryder is an American actres who, at the time, was facing charges of shop lifting and using drugs without a valid prescription. This incident was well documented by the media, and every aspect of her life was being scrutinized.

Lorelai: With a little encouragement, I could've been the Señor Wences of the vegetable set.

Señor Wences was a ventriloquist who frequently appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950's and '60's. His primary schtick was to make a face on the crotch of the fist (between the thumb and forefinger) using lipstick and a grease pencil and, by moving his thumb, make the "face" thus made "talk". In its time, it was cute. The modern response would probably be, "Huh?"

Jeff Spicoli was a character played by Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The character was a surf dude who was constantly high and, either as a consequence or otherwise, not particularly bright.

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